I know there are 100 different Decoy post, but....
 

I am on a limited budget and need to start building a decoy spread. I was thinking a set of those "Hot Buy" Decoys and a couple of the "Marsh" puddler packs. OR 2 doz hot buy mallards and on set of the puddler. Whats your input.

RE: I know there are 100 different Decoy post, but....
 

It all depends on what your target species is. If you aren't going to be encountering widgeon... then don't fool with widgeon decoys. Same for sprigs. I've killed just about every species of duck there is to kill in my part of the world (just about) with little more than mallard and black duck decoys. Granted, over the last five years or so my budget has become 10 times what it was, so I have a set of sprigs now and more mallards and more blacks... but I keep on whacking a mixed bag when I so desire.

Here is what I would do in your shoes: If you are planning on seriously duck hunting, not just dabbling at it, save some money and buy a six pack of Herter's Mag Mallards... armored if you are feeling spendy. Reason being.... Avery decoys look great, they really do. I've killed a lot of birds over them.... but... the paint is not going to last you. I baby my equipment. It drives the people I hunt with mad. But even at that, a set of Avery blocks will only last me two, maybe three seasons at the most before the paint beomes bad enough for me to deep six it or turn it into a big water deek.

If you are hunting pockets and ponds... six is probably all you'll need anyway. Those Herters will last you decades.

RE: I know there are 100 different Decoy post, but....
 

I'm deploying soon, so my savings account will grow extensively. I will be replacing my decoys by next season, i just need to band-aid the situation until there. As far as species, we encounter widgeon,Gads, and teal, along with Mallards, golden eys, Buffle heads, shouvlers,and others, so where do i start or stop as far as species.

As far as water way size. Everything from sloughs to the great salt lake. but i think there will be more pot holes this year. Too many Golden Eyes and such last year in the sloughs.

RE: I know there are 100 different Decoy post, but....
 

hot buys are alwasy nice

RE: I know there are 100 different Decoy post, but....
 

get a dozen mallards if you can, most birds will decoy to them, or at least they will on my little section of the nation

RE: I know there are 100 different Decoy post, but....
 

if you are hunting puddle ducks (sounds like you are for the most part) start with Mallard decoys and then a few teal and be done with it until next year....

according to my friends at Avery the paint problems have been fixed, I had saw no problems with the ones I hunted over last year...it might be worth a shot for one season.....

my personal decoys are a combination of G&H and Higdon, magnum and super magnums...and for a longer term solution they work well....

RE: I know there are 100 different Decoy post, but....
 

I'm glad they got it straight. They make a fine looking block at a very reasonable price. And, so as to not be a total hater here.... I do have 8 of their oversized goose floaters that are on their third season and they hardly have a scratch on them. They have held up extremely well. But the ducks do need some help... at least mine do.

RE: I know there are 100 different Decoy post, but....
 

What about some Wideons or Gad's? The "Marsh" puddler pack had widgeons, gadwalls and green wing. I'm thinking 1 doz 'hot buy' mallards and one of those puddler packs, maybe two. Or shouldI just go with 1 doz mallards and some teal?

RE: I know there are 100 different Decoy post, but....
 

gads and bald pates certainly won't hurt anything, but they aren't necessary to kill ducks.... I like using greenwing tealblocks because, for one thing,I like a bit of size variety, and I love it when teal buzz the decoys....

Most puddle ducks will decoy to mallards blocks fairly well.... heck puddlers will decoy to diver decoys pretty well, but the reverse isn't necessarily true...from what I've seen divers are more decoy critical than puddlers....

RE: I know there are 100 different Decoy post, but....
 

You know speaking of that, something I have found to hold true, especially in fairly big water and open rivers, is that if you mix duck and goose floaters (yes I know it isn't natural.... but it works and thats the point)... I've found that even mallards seem to prefer landing near the geese even over landing with their own kind.

I agree with you Gordon about divers being super picky. I've also found that pintails, when in larger groups) tend to be fairly picky as well. Same goes for black ducks. Wood ducks are extremely choosy too.... but even at that most of the time they will just buzz you once and be gone... kill them whenever they are in range because you often don't get a second chance.

RE: I know there are 100 different Decoy post, but....
 

I ended up getting som GHG Hot Buy's and some GHG Green-Wing Teal. I will be going back next pay day, maybe get some more teals. Oh, i also go some Mallard Butts. I'm gonna end up getting some sleepers and some of the full body feeder ducks. Whats y'alls opinion on Mojo's?

RE: I know there are 100 different Decoy post, but....
 

BEST PEICE OF EQUITMENT ON THE FIELD, in my opinion MOJOs are my number one thing in my spread and if your on a budget. like i was at first i bought 2 of those MOJO doves and they imatate a blue wing teal but now they got the MOJO teal so. what ever im justs saying that if yuo dont want to spend 150 buck on the Mojo duck you can get those Dove decoys, ducks wont no the diffarace, The Doves are on sale at cabelas for 40 buck so,,,there yah go:D



Good Luck.
Jaymie

RE: I know there are 100 different Decoy post, but....
 

I'll second that about wood ducks. From the experiences I've had with woodies, when you're hunting public land; say another hunter shoots and gets all of the wood ducks up off the water in the area. Those mojo mallards im guessing looks like other ducks getting up off the water, so wood ducks which like to group up from what i've seen, will fly straight towards that mojo.

And wood ducks around here will NOT stop for anything. If they're say 75 to 100 yards out, and they see you're spread and you hit em with the call, its very tough to get them to change their mind. We did get two pairs of wood ducks last year that buzzed our spread 4 times before leaving... very surprising.

RE: I know there are 100 different Decoy post, but....
 

hot buys hit with krylan matte clear coat will last you for a few years longer. agreed with everyone else about mallards decoys. i like to put some oversized pinneys or geese on the edge to get the higher profile and a lot of white to catch attention of those migrators out in the middle of nowhere.